Woodland plants · Galium odoratum
Discover woodruff
A green star around the stem! Puschel counts the woodruff leaves. Flauschi spots tiny white flowers above them.
The short answer
Woodruff has leaf-like parts arranged in rings around the stem. Such a ring is called a whorl. Small white flowers appear in late spring. We observe it without making our own drinks from it.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
Puschel counts the leaves around a stem. Puschel“A little green star!” Flauschi spots tiny white flowers nearby.
Flauschi points out the tiny white flowers above the green leaves. Puschel looks first at the flowers, then at the rings around the stem. Puschel“Two patterns on one plant!” He counts only with his eyes and leaves the surrounding litter in place.
Plant clues
Three things to notice
Leaf whorls
Green leaf-like parts form whorls around the stem. Each whorl includes true leaves and similar-looking stipules.
White flowers
Small white flowers appear in late spring.
Shady woodland floor
Woodruff often grows in shady deciduous woodland.
Mini quiz
What do you remember?
1. How are woodruff’s green parts arranged?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)Three-part leaves
- b)Leaf whorls
- c)Single leaves along the stem
Show answer
Correct answer: b): Leaf whorls Leaf whorls
2. Where does sweet woodruff often grow?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)In a dry, fully sunny place
- b)In shady deciduous woodland
- c)Under water
Show answer
Correct answer: b): In shady deciduous woodland In shady deciduous woodland
Word help
- whorl
- Several leaves or leaf-like parts arranged in a ring at one level around a stem.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
What is a leaf whorl?
Woodruff’s narrow green parts form star-like rings around its stem. Such an arrangement is called a whorl. Botanically, these rings include true leaves and similar-looking stipules, small leaf-like plant parts. They are not arranged as separate rungs up a ladder.
Compare and understand
Count the green tips in two different whorls without picking them. A picture shows one example, not an identical number on every plant. Its familiar scent is not a safe identification test or a reason to eat an unknown plant or make a drink from it.